Google Places on Google Maps! Claim it. Own it. Rock it!

Your listing on Google Places affects the information provided on Google Maps. Google Maps obtains information from many different sources; as Google states, "our listings combine information from our web search results, data submitted directly by local business owners, and third-party sources such as publicly available Yellow Pages directories."

By claiming your Google Places listing, you can instill confidence in internet users visiting your listing because the information you provide will be marked as 'by owner' and displayed at the top of your listing on Google Maps. This information includes the following:

• location: street address
• phone and fax numbers
• email address
• website
• short description
  
• categories for your business
• business hours
• payment options
• photos
• videos
• additional information: type of parking available

See the two sets of instructions below to claim your business listing on Google Places and start adding high priority results to Google's search engine!


How to Claim Your Business Listing in Google Places on Google Maps

1. Go to http://www.maps.google.com. Search for your community using the search engine. Click on ‘more info’ to the right of your community’s name. If Google Maps cannot locate your community, click the ‘Report a problem’ link under the list of search results and follow instructions titled "How to Create a Business Listing with Google Places on Google Maps" later in this post.
2. Click ‘Business owner?’ located at the top right of your listing.
3. Login to your Google Account or click ‘Create an Account Now’ and follow the instructions.
4. Choose ‘Edit my business information’ and click ‘Continue.’
5. Enter the requested information and click ‘Submit.’
6. Choose to verify via phone call, SMS or text, or postcard. Recommendation: phone call.
7. Verify ownership by entering the PIN.



How to Create a Business Listing with Google Places on Google Maps

1. Go to http://www.maps.google.com. Search for your community using the search engine. If Google Maps cannot locate your community, click the ‘Report a problem’ link under the list of search results.
2. Choose ‘A place is missing from Google Maps’ and click ‘Continue.’
3. Login to your Google Account or click ‘Create an Account Now’ and follow the instructions.
4. Click ‘Continue to add a location.’
5. Enter your community’s name, click and drag the marker to your community entrance if needed, and click ‘Next.’
6. Enter all of your community’s information: Place Name, Phone Number, Homepage (if applicable), Categories (apartments, apartment building, furnished apartments etc), Hours, and Address. Click the checkbox next to ‘Send email when this edit is reviewed…’ and click ‘Publish.’



Troubleshooting

If you haven’t heard from Google in a couple of days, go to http://www.maps.google.com. Search for your community using the search engine. If you find your community, follow the steps on Page 1.

Check In on Your Foursquare Venue! New Category Available!

The day has finally arrived! Foursquare has added 'Apartment Building' as a category option for Foursquare venues. Adding this category to your venue will help your community display in the results for searches by your target audience! To add the 'Apartment Building' category to your venue follow these steps:

How To Add a Category to Your Venue

1. Go to your venue. Click on a link or search for your community on Foursquare.com.
2. Click the 'Edit' button in the lower right corner of your venue information.
3. Select 'Home, Work, Other' from the drop-down menu in the 'Add a category' section.
4. Select 'Apartment Building' from the new drop-down menu option.
5. Click the green 'Add Category' button.

There's No 'Edit' Button?!

If you do not see the 'Edit' button on your venue, then you still need to claim your venue.

We will walk through the steps for How to Claim Your Foursquare Venue on Tuesday, May 3 during our week of "Your Online Presence - Claim it. Own it. Rock it!" You can also email me for instructions at Rachel@CaptureTheMarket.com.

"Turning Life Into a Game" is going one step further!

Foursquare has evolved to "make cities easier to use" and now offers an Explore tab to help users find specific genres of nearby places. You can now search for 'coffee,' and Foursquare will show you all the coffee places nearby, whether you or your friends have been there, which venues are popular places, and more!

Clicking the 'Explore' option from your Foursquare home page will now take you to the Explore homepage which will automatically display Recommended places in a small area or Trending places in a large area. You can click on the mixer icon in the top left corner of the home page to change the settings: select the search radius (.25 - 10 miles) and specify information sources (everyone, only friends, or only you).



Once you have your search radius and information sources selected, you can search for nearby venues. The more specific your search, the more interesting venues will display. Searching a broad topic will prompt Foursquare to display predictive detailed search options. If you search for "coffee," Foursquare will offer "cafe" and "coffee shop" as search options. The search results will display tips associated with the venue and the following about the venue:

• If you have been there
• If (and how many) friends have been there
• If the venue is popular on Foursquare
  

Are you prepared for this new Foursquare?
Comment with your thoughts on this new direction of Foursquare: the explore tab, new format for the leaderboard, and specials offered to swarms, groups of friends, regulars, newbies, Mayors, or everyone.

Visit Foursquare's blog to read more about these changes.